Alva Woods papers (MS.2011.017)

Series 1. Correspondence, 1802 Aug 11-1918 Apr 10
37.0 folders

Most of the letters in this series are to or from members of the Woods and Brown families. In some cases the name of the recipient or writer of a letter is not known. Some of the letters include typed transcripts. The correspondence in each subseries is arranged alphabetically by the name of the Woods or Brown family member who either received or wrote the letter, and then by date.

Most of the letters concern family, business or professional matters. The letter to Alva Woods from Rev. E.B. Teague in 1869 discusses conditions in the south after the Civil War. The letter from John Brown (1736-1803) to Jacob Whitman, Sr. is about a business transaction. The letter from Nicholas Brown (1792-1859) to Ambassador de Cascelles is the first draft of a letter concerning the bombardment of Rome by French forces, written when Nicholas Brown was the United States Consul to Italy.

One letter is enclosed with the pamphlet entitled John Carter of Providence, Rhode Island, July 21, 1745-August 19, 1814 and His Descendants in Series 7. Publications.

Series 1. Subseries A. Woods family, 1827 Apr 10-1918 Apr 10
19.0 folders

The letters in this subseries are primarily to or from Alva Woods, his son Marshall Woods or his grandson John Carter Brown Woods. The subseries includes copies of letters of recommendation written for Alva Woods when he was being considered for the presidencies of Transylvania University and the University of Alabama, as well as a letter from the poet John Greenleaf Whittier about Whittier’s becoming a Trustee of Brown University.

Series 1. Subseries B. Brown family, 1802 Aug 11-1887 Jun 23
14.0 folders

This subseries contains letters to and from members of the Brown family. Almost all concern family matters. The letters from John Brown Francis to Dr. Boyd and another physician concern the health of his daughter Abby (1823-1841).

Series 1. Subseries C. Other, 1856 Apr 7-1869 Dec 11
4.0 folders

It is not known if any of the writers or recipients of the letters in this subseries are members of the Brown or Woods families. The letter from John Greenleaf Whittier concerns whether or not he would accept a Trusteeship at Brown University.

Series 2. Architectural drawings
1.0 folder

Box 4xxx, Folder 1
This series consists of six sheets of plans for the Trinity Building at 111 Broadway in New York City. The building was designed by the firm of Richard Upjohn and Son. Upjohn was best known for his Gothic Revival churches, among them Trinity Church in New York City, which was located next to the Trinity Building. Upjohn designed several buildings in Rhode Island, including Grace Episcopal Church in Providence and the Edward King house in Newport.

Series 3. Documents, 1657 Sep 29-1925 Jun 12
23.0 folders

The documents in these papers have been organized into three subseries, each arranged by date. Subseries A. Real Estate contains deeds and other material related to the ownership of property. Most of the deeds are for land purchased by Alva Woods in Alabama. Subseries B. Wills and estates includes copies of the wills of Nicholas Brown (1769-1841) and John Carter Brown (1797-1874) as well as a court opinion concerning a dispute about the estate of Nicholas Brown (1769-1841). Subseries C. Other contains a variety of documents, including the marriage certificate of Nicholas Brown (1792-1859) and Caroline Matilda Clements (1809-1879) and Alva Woods’ Bachelor of Arts diploma from Harvard University.

Some of the documents include typed transcripts.

Series 3. Subseries A. Real estate, 1657 Sep 29-1925 Jun 12
11.0 folders

This subseries contains two original deeds. The deed for land purchased by James Northfolke in England is written on vellum. The deed for land purchased by the Baptist Charitable Society is in several pieces which have been placed in a mylar sleeve. Other related material includes a surveyor’s report on land purchased by Alva Woods in Alabama; a document describing Woods’ home in Warwick Neck, R.I.; and an assessment of the value of real estate owned by Woods and his wife Almira.

Series 3. Subseries B. Wills and estates, 1791-1867 Dec 30
4.0 folders

The first item in this subseries is the inventory of the estate of Nicholas Brown (1729-1841), which is handwritten on a piece of paper approximately four inches by two inches. The fragment appears to be a receipt. A typed transcript of these two items is included in the folder. Both wills in this subseries are copies of the originals.

Series 3. Subseries C. Other, 1697 Jun 29-1876 Nov 20
8.0 folders

The documents in this subseries include marriage, stock, and membership certificates; Alva Woods’ diploma from Harvard University; and a document commissioning John Browne (1662-1719) an Ensign in the Providence militia. The gravestone inscription for Ann Carter Brown Francis is printed on one page and is not dated.

Series 4. Ephemera, 1868 Apr 1-1881 Aug 26
1.0 folder

Box 1, Folder 51
This series includes three tickets to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, dated April 1, 6 and 10, 1868. They are accompanied by a calling card for “Mr. Anthony, Rhode Island” on which is written a note asking that “these ladies” be admitted to the Senate chamber. The note may have been written by Henry B. Anthony, who was a Republican Senator from Rhode Island from 1859 to 1884.

This series also contains two menus, one of which is written in French; mailing labels addressed to Marshall Woods, Esq. from a company in London, England; and a program for the Brown University Commencement in 1872, the year John Carter Brown Woods graduated from Brown.

Series 5. Maps
1.0 item

Map-case 1, Drawer 14
There is one map in this series, entitled Plan Detaille de La Rochelle et de ses Environs. It was published in 1844. La Rochelle is a city in western France, located on the Bay of Biscay.

Series 6. Newspaper clippings, 1860 May 12-1907 Jun 1
1.0 folder

Box 1, Folder 52
The newspaper clippings in this series are photocopies of the originals, which were in fragile condition. Parts of some clippings had crumbled and were missing. Many of the clippings are not dated, and for some the name of the newspaper they are from was missing.

Most of the clippings concern the Brown family in Providence. They include articles about the death of Nicholas Brown (1729-1791) and his grandson Nicholas Brown (1792-1859); a copy of a letter by John Brown (1736-1803) concerning a business matter; a silhouette of Moses Brown, and an article about Brown family memorials in Providence.

Series 7. Publications, 1771-2011
36.0 folders

Most of the publications in this series are almanacs, journals, newspapers or pamphlets. The pamphlet by N. Dragoumes is written in Greek and English. A letter and a glee club program are enclosed with the pamphlet written by J.C.B. Woods. Pamphlets written by Alva Woods may be found in Series 9. Writings.

The newspapers are dated from 1841 to 1887. Most are published by religious organizations. The list of newspapers originally found in the Alva Woods papers is arranged by place of publication.

This series also includes a book containing photographs from the Gemaldegalerie in Dresden, Germany; a packet of engravings, a pocket diary for 1852 and one broadside.

The publications are arranged alphabetically.

Series 8. Recipes
1.0 folder

Box 3, Folder 7
This series contains a small number of handwritten recipes, all undated. Several are written on three pages that have been folded and sewn together with yarn. The others are on a single folded page that appears to have been part of a small notebook. The recipes are for a variety of things, including cakes, calves foot jelly and a remedy for lockjaw. Some include comments (e.g. not very good).

Series 9. Writings, 1820 Oct 7-1878
20.0 folders

This series contains handwritten notes, a booklet of handwritten poems by Maunsell B. Field, and writings by Alva Woods. None of the handwritten notes are signed, and few are dated. The titles of the notes were taken from the first line on the page. Most are on one page and concern religious topics. The writings by Alva Woods are dated between 1831 and 1878. All but two are handwritten.

The writings are arranged alphabetically.

Series 10. Photographs, circa 1871
2.0 folders

This series contains loose photographs that were found in with other material in the Alva Woods papers. The original owner of the photographs is not known. Most of them are pictures of various European sculptures, such as the Venus de Milo. Two are pictures of children.